NewzSchools New Zealand School Directory
Browse all schools

hello@newzschools.nz
NewzSchools · Aotearoa New Zealand

Waihao Downs School

Waimate · Canterbury Region

Full Primary · State · Co-Educational · Rural other · Enrolment scheme

School website Get directions

Waihao Downs School at a glance

Waihao Downs School is a co-educational full primary school in Waimate, within the Canterbury Region, operating in the state sector, with 76 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 442. The school has been open since 1904.

With 76 students on roll, Waihao Downs School is a small school — larger than about 21% of New Zealand schools. Its rural setting typically means smaller class groups and a close-knit community feel.

The school's Equity Index is 442, which is below the national average of 463. A lower Equity Index signals less socio-economic need in the school's community than the national norm.

84.8% of students identify as European, so the school has a strongly homogeneous roll. Students of Asian descent make up 10.1%.

On the isolation index the school scores 1.5 (very high isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 6784.8%
Asian 810.1%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 33.8%
Other 11.3%
European 67 · 84.8%
Asian 8 · 10.1%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 3 · 3.8%
Other 1 · 1.3%

Total roll recorded: 76 students. Percentages are calculated from the 2026 roll census and may not sum to exactly 100% because of rounding and students who decline to state an ethnicity.

Roll in context

76Students on rollLarger than 21% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
442Equity IndexBelow national mean of 463
0.55Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
1.5Isolation indexvery high isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

School facts

  • School typeFull Primary
  • YearsYears 1–8
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingRural other
  • Territorial authorityWaimate District
  • Education regionCanterbury, Chatham Islands
  • Regional councilCanterbury Region
  • Enrolment schemeYes — has an in-zone entitlement
  • BoardingDay school only
  • Language of instructionAll students taught in English/other setting
  • Cohort entryNo — individual entry
  • DonationsDonations should not be requested, unless for a school camp
  • Opened1904
  • Roll date2026 directory export
  • Statistical areaMorven-Glenavy-Ikawai
  • WardHakataramea-Waihaorunga Ward
  • General electorateWaitaki
  • Māori electorate—

Location

Canterbury Region
Waimate 44.7910° S · 170.9275° E
Open in Maps

Nearby schools

Waimate Centennial SchoolWaimate · Contributing 11.1 km Waimate High SchoolWaimate · Secondary (Year 7-15) 11.2 km Waimate Main SchoolWaimate · Contributing 11.2 km St Patrick's School (Waimate)Waimate · Full Primary 11.9 km Waituna Creek SchoolWaimate · Full Primary 12.1 km Glenavy SchoolWaimate · Full Primary 19.2 km

Similar schools

About this data

School #3567 is drawn from the New Zealand Ministry of Education school directory export dated 1 September 2026, with roll and ethnicity figures recorded at the same snapshot. Equity Index, isolation index, enrolment scheme and boarding fields are as published by the Ministry. Qualification attainment statistics on this site come from Education Counts releases.

Figures are provided for information and comparison only. NewzSchools is an independent directory, is not affiliated with the Ministry of Education, and does not endorse or rank schools. Always confirm enrolment details, zone boundaries and fees directly with the school.

Corrections and updates: contact the directory.

More in Canterbury Region

Other schools in the region.

All Canterbury Region schools
Compare schools

See how other schools stack up.

Filter 2,578 schools by region, type, roll size, Equity Index, boarding and enrolment scheme.

Open the directory NCEA results
Data as at
1 September 2026
Schools listed
2,578
Regions
18